To observe the pride which our former serving men and women had on their faces no doubt remembering the contribution which they made years later in the other "Theatres of War" namely in Korea and Vietnam but other places too preserving our freedom and way of life was a sight which I will remember for years to come.

The service certainly delivered a passionate message with the various speakers led by our local RSL officials and our Mayor Danielle Slade and Councillor Coghlan with the Prayers being led by Fr. Mick.

It is a time when those of us who have never served can express our thanks and appreciation to those men and women who did, simply by being in attendance.

I was disappointed that besides our Mayor and Councillor Coghlan there was no other councillor in attendance.

I think there is a message somewhere there.

Sure our Councillors may be busy people but just a few short months ago they were parading as great community minded individuals.

What greater community activity can there be in in a community celebrating the anniversary of the end of a world war where millions of people lost their lives in a world war where millions gave their lives for the democracy which we enjoy today.

There are 12 other men and women in our City today who would have loved to have been in the position of these Councillors but they were not elected at the recent election.

Our Councillors may be busy people, Saturday morning but they are being very well paid to be a Councillor and I would have thought that to attend such a significant event on such a significant occasion is surely the role of our elected officials as was demonstrated by our local Member of Parliament.

The non attendance of these elected Councillors soured what was otherwise a wonderful Mount Isa morning where we chatted and observed our young people re-living history.

I'm sure that many of those in attendance would have been disappointed at the non attendance

Of our former elected Council members, I certainly was.

Tony McGrady

Mount Isa

Crossing the floor at Parliament is a rare event, but I was forced to do just that in the August State Government sitting.

The Environmental Protection and Other Legislation Bill is not in the best interests of the Callide Electorate and I do NOT support it.

This Bill continues the vilification of Farmers and Miners, who are the heavy lifters in the Queensland economy.

This Bill creates the addition of another Government Department, for $8 million taxpayer dollars.

This Bill creates a Rehabilitation Commissioner who only answers to the Minister with undefined powers, and no specific qualifications.

Our Mining and Resource Industry already implements and practices world's best rehabilitation and environmental standards that are second to none.

With the passing of this Bill this week in Parliament, and the revelations of the Federal Senate Inquiry into the fraudulent Reef Science that underpins the Reef Legislation I am deeply concerned for our regions.

Put simply, farmers will have to lodge a permit to plant their crops.

Colin Boyce

member for Callide